What is a Skid?
20 Mar 2012 | No Comments | posted by admin | in Blog
A vehicle tyre loses grip when forces acting on the vehicle exceed the coefficient of friction between the tyre and the road surface. Many things can cause this, such as excessive speed for the road conditions, sudden braking, fierce acceleration and harsh or excessive steering. A car’s condition can also play a major role, particularly if the tyres or brakes are worn.
Skids don’t just happen. They are human error. Usually as result of poor concentration and failure to take road conditions into account. If you tackle a corner too fast, for example, the front tyres might not have enough grip to cope with what you are asking them to do, and the car will tend to plough straight on (a car without anti-lock brakes will also slide straight on, irrespective of any steering adjustments, if you lock up the wheels under emergency braking).
This is under steer, so called because the car is literally turning less than you want it to.
Likewise with the back end, this will slide wide and the car might start to spin. This is known as over steer because the car is turning more than you want it to.
It is harder to contain an over steering car, particularly if you are inexperienced. You can apply “opposite lock” by turning “into” the skid (in the same direction the tail is moving). Because you are pointing the front wheels in the direction you want to go, this is a more natural reaction than it sounds, but many drivers do it too aggressively. If that happens, the car might start to over steer in the opposite direction when the tyres bite, and you are likely to find yourself “fishtailing” down the road.
If the worst happens and you should start to over steer or under steer for whatever reason, the quickest way to regain control is to take the correct very prompt action. Remember that a car is much more likely to spin out of control in damp, wet or icy conditions, but never forget that you could encounter an unexpected hazard – such a slippery diesel spillage, mud, sand, loose gravel or fallen leaves – on an apparently dry surface.
More than 90 per cent of all accidents involve some sort of skid.
Stay alert and observant and you might have no need to worry about such things, if you’re lucky, but it brings a huge safety benefit for all drivers to invest a few hours in some form of skid control, skid prevention training, just in case. No amount of theory will help you in a sudden emergency, when the natural human reaction is to panic and freeze. But with a skid control, skid prevention training course and practice in a safe environment, you can gain an instinctive understanding of how to stay out of trouble and this course could save your life.
How to Get Your Vehicle Moving if Stuck
13 Mar 2012 | No Comments | posted by admin | in Blog
Here are ten top tips from the experts at the Alconbury Driving Centre for getting going again if you are stuck.
- Best way: If other cars/trucks are present, ask for help from them .They might tug your car out of the mud/sand/ice/snow.
- Put the transmission into four-wheel drive and active the differential locks (if equipped).
- Shift into the lowest gear available (if wheels spin try a higher gear ie 2nd gear).
- If the car won’t get out in one direction, drive back and forward alternately.
- Turn the steering wheel slightly and try driving in a different direction.
- Clear the soft silt or sand under the driving wheel to gain traction.
- Reduce the air pressure of the slipping wheel(s) & use less acceleration
- Place wood, pebbles or a piece of old carpet in front of the slipping wheel(s) (if driving forward) or behind the slipping wheel(s) (if driving reverse)
- Be prepared to steer and brake after you get your car out.
- Switch off momentarily the ESP/ESC system (Always consult your vehicle handbook)
ESP Science Explained
6 Mar 2012 | No Comments | posted by admin | in Blog
Bosch call it the electronic guardian angel.
They describe critical manoeuvres with and without ESP.
Vehicle without ESP:
1. Vehicle approaches an obstacle.
2. Vehicle goes of course, enters oncoming traffic lane and driver loses control.
3. Counter steering causes the vehicle to go into a skid.
Vehicle with ESP:
1. Vehicle approaches an obstacle.
2. Vehicle threatens to break away. ESP intervenes and restores full steerability.
3. Counter steer results in threat of renewed breakaway. ESP intervenes again
4. Vehicle is stabilized.
Bosch says the Electronic Stability Program (ESP) supports the driver in nearly all critical driving situations. It detects skidding instantaneously and actively counteracts it. ESP goes beyond ABS and traction control systems (TCM). Sensors read desired steering direction, the vehicles rotary movement and lateral accelerations.
From this data the control unit calculates the actual movement of the vehicle, comparing it 25 times per second with the driver’s desired direction. If the values do not correspond, ESP reacts instantly without any action on the part of the driver. It reduces engine power and brakes individual wheels. Skidding is counteracted and the car remains safe on its desired course.
The system was developed in conjunction with Mercedes-Benz who was the first to launch it in 1995 in their S-class. Bosch has since refined the system.
Don’t be confused with manufacturers trying to differentiate themselves with different names for what is the same system. They may call it DSC, PSM, VSA or VSC but it’s ESP.
Components of ESP from Bosch are:
• ESP-Hydraulic unit with integrated ECU.
• Wheel speed sensor.
• Steering angle sensor.
• Yaw rate sensor with integrated acceleration sensor.
• Engine management ECU for communication.
Only 1% of those surveyed identified ESP and are aware of ESP as an active – corrective – safety system.
The life saving potential of ESP has been confirmed by several scientific studies:
• Toyota has concluded ESP could reduce driving accidents by 50%.
• Daimler-Chrysler reported a 42% reduction in accidents since introducing ESP as standard on Mercedes-Benz in 1999.
• VW think it could reduce fatal accidents by 35%.
• German studies show 25% of all injuries are due to skidding.
• 60% of fatal accidents are due to side impacts caused by skidding.
• American studies revealed a staggering 67% reduction in single SUV accidents when fitted with ESP.
With a skid control, skid prevention training course and practice in a safe environment, you can gain an instinctive understanding of how this technology works to keep you out of trouble, and this training and new knowledge could save your life.
Following this link to download the ESP guide document as a pdf.
Testimonial For Driver Training Alconbury Driving Centre
15 Feb 2012 | No Comments | posted by admin | in Blog
I had the pleasure of attending the Fire services driving refresher course for officers some weeks ago and found the input extremely useful and which has changed a number of aspects of my driving technique and habits.
I especially wish to send my thanks to the Cambridgeshire Police Shrievalty Trust & The Alconbury Driving Centre course where I experienced for the first time skid avoidance training and the use of ABS. Being a little further on in my career than most the advent of ABS was not around when I learnt to drive – the allowance it makes for steering whilst braking in an emergency was not one I had considered.
You can count on one hand the times I have had to brake in an emergency and I have never had to steer in such incidents. However the very next day after the course I had a situation on a slip road onto a dual carriageway when the car in front instead of matching speed with the traffic on the carriageway decided to do an emergency stop. I was looking back for the traffic coming on the main carriageway way, on looking forward again I was presented with a stationary car where there should not have been one. I executed the emergency stop but had to steer around the car on the inside eventually stopping some two thirds past the back of the vehicle.
I am convinced if I had not had the input from the training my reaction would have been emergency stop and no steer which would have resulted in a serious Road Traffic Collision – which would also have been my fault entirely. The `gentleman concerned` was an American and thought he was turning right at a junction. Luckily I explained about dual carriageways and slip roads to him – politely of course!
Andy Tucker
Central and Huntingdon Risk Manager
Cambridgeshire Fire & Rescue Service
Huntingdon Fire station
Hartford Road,
Huntingdon PE29 3RH.
SAFED Training for Luminus Employees
15 Feb 2012 | No Comments | posted by admin | in Blog
About Luminus Group
Luminus Group is widely known for inspirational leadership and innovation in housing services delivery. Seen by many as one of the most progressive businesses in the UK. Luminus leads the way in socially responsible business in eastern England, focusing on providing homes, employment and real estate services, building sustainable communities and energising hope for life’s best – today and for future generations.
Luminus prides itself on being an enthusiastic pioneer of innovative, independently financed schemes for high quality affordable housing that give people of all ages and backgrounds choice to rent or buy.
Strategically positioned in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, one of the UK’s fastest growing areas, Luminus provides homes for over 30,000 people, and is growing.
Luminus Drives the Way Forward
More than fifty tradesmen from Luminus Group have passed the Safe and Fuel Efficient Driving (SAFED) training programme with flying colours. Completing the SAFED driver training course is especially important as Luminus deals with more than 30,000 customers and 7,000 homes with a commitment to the highest quality customer care. Luminus has a substantial fleet of different types of vehicles and ninety-six drivers working within and serving residents of the local community. Their entire fleet of drivers have been trained and tis is now an ongoing process for all new employees.
Luminus also has an environmental policy, which considers how to reduce the environmental impact of all activities, and investigates and adopts examples of environmental best practice wherever possible.
By going through the SAFED driver training course Luminus tradesmen learn:-
- To drive more safely
- To drive with less stress
- To achieve a greater degree of fuel efficiency
Many of the tradesmen have also noticed a positive difference when driving their own cars.
The benefits of the course for the Luminus business are:
- Lower costs
- Reduced carbon dioxide emissions
- Improved environmental performance
Some of the positive comments made after the training:
“I found the advice from the trainer was very useful, I was surprised at how much difference was made to the fuel consumption by making just a few changes to the way I drove. I will be using this advice when I am driving my own car,”
and
“It is nearly 40 years since I passed my driving test and obviously over that time I had picked up one or two bad habits so I found it useful to have a refresher like this.”
Luminus tradesman Jamie Cameron shows off his SAFED driver training certificate
Chan Abraham, Luminus Group Chief Executive said,
“Luminus has a commitment to excellence in every aspect of our organisation. By including the SAFED training in Luminus’ excellent driver training programme, we create an ideal opportunity to minimise our environmental impact, reduce our road risk and increase the professionalism of our drivers.”
Light Commercial Vehicles (LCVs) play an important role in the country’s economy with activity in the United Kingdom in 2003 accounting for some 58 billion combined kilometers. Over 90% of this distance was in connection with the collection and delivery of goods, travel between home and workplace or journeys between jobs.
Drive Safe Winner
23 Jan 2012 | No Comments | posted by admin | in Blog
Drive Safe competiton winner 15-yearold Max Brindley of Silver Lane, Needingworth.
Teenagers should be given the opportunity to have a driving lesson before their 17th birthday, claims a 15-year-old Hunts Post competition winner who won the chance to drive around a private circuit.
As part of The Hunts Post’s Drive Safe, Save a Life Campaign, we teamed up with Alconbury Driving Centre to offer one youngster aged 15 or 16 the chance to take part in a free driving course specially designed for those too young to hold a driving licence.
The winner was 15-year-old Max Brindley of Silver Lane, Needingworth, who completed his course on Friday.
“I really enjoyed it. We drove along the old runway, went through the gears, sign posts, stopping, everything! I liked the runway the most: I got up to 55mph”.
“The Hunts Post competition was the first I had heard about the course but I think everyone should do it. Everyone wants to look cool and drive fast but this teaches you a lot.”
The aim of the one-to-one, three-hour programme, with a DSA-approved instructor, is to give teenagers a chance to learn the basics and vital road safety.
At the centre’s private driving circuit at Alconbury Airfield, teenagers encounter junctions, traffic lights, pedestrian crossings and roundabouts.
Since January, The Hunts Post has been campaigning to end fatal collisions among young people on Cambridgeshire’s roads.
Two people aged between 17 and 25 are killed on Britain’s roads every day. In 2010, 12 young motorists in Cambridgeshire died following accidents.
The Alconbury driving centre was set up over seven years ago by the Cambridgeshire Police Shrievalty Trust with the aim of cutting down on road deaths by promoting greater partnership between the community, police and other partners in particular with their young driver training programme.
Based on article originally published in the Hunts Evening Post in 2011
Blind Drivers Experience Alconbury Driving Centre
3 Oct 2011 | No Comments | posted by admin | in Blog
Roger and Molly Fixter At Alconbury Driving Centre
A fantastic driving experience at Alconbury Driving Centre.
Roger & Molly are both blind!
“Hi Paul, Thank you for making Sunday one of the best days of our lives. We had a fantastic time and were extremely impressed with the way you talked us through everything. You’ve obviously done this before. You made us both feel totally relaxed and confident. Once again, many thanks for a fantastic day”.
Roger and Molly Fixter – April 2011